The Jayhawks at the Barbican

The Jayhawks

Chuck Prophet

Barbican, 8 February 2012

"This song is about unrequited love, that's when someone doesn't love you back," Californian singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet amusingly explains to us. "My wife told me that saying that is patronising. That's when someone speaks down to you. I never do that," he grins.
Prophet definitely likes a natter with the crowd, every song has some amusing banter before it and the songs themselves are equally joyful. Prophet was one of those artists I had always meant to check out after many recommendations and seeing him live I now understand why he's always recommended to me: with a great stage presence, surprisingly poppy, tuneful melodies and just great songs, which often reminded me of a more folky Tom Petty, Prophet's opening set tonight whizzes by and is fun throughout. At the end of his set he dedicates to song (The Left Hand And The Right Hand) to all the brothers out there, from Phil and Don Everly to Ray and Dave Davies to the Gallaghers and even throws in Mark and Gary of The Jayhawks, who although aren't technically brothers are at least musical ones, and is a great lead-in to tonight's main act.

After years of waiting to see the classic Jayhawks line-up, I finally got to see them last year at the Forum, one of my least favourite London venues. Thankfully tonight I'm front row at the Barbican, a venue that always sounds great and it's the perfect setting for their roots-based Americana sound. They actually seem more relaxed and together this time, obviously touring for the past year has made them tighter and more assured and they've even broken out some rarities and post-Olson numbers (although Mark Olson himself looks a little uncomfortable playing on them).

Gary Louris, as usual, looks every inch the cool rock star, with his suit and curls, while Olson still has that just-got-out-of-bed folk hero look with his crumpled plaid shirt and jeans. As I've said on this blog many, many times before, it's the team of Louris and Olson, their unique chemistry, their perfect, spine-chilling harmonies and superb, extremely underrated songwriting, that make The Jayhawks so special but not enough is said about the other members of the band. Karen Grotberg's distinctive keyboards and harmonies and the solid backbone of rhythm section of Marc Perlman (bass) and Tim O'Reagan on drums, who gets to sing his excellent Tampa To Tulsa tonight, are just as important. Really every person in the group adds to the magic and together they are something special to behold.

The Jayhawks' thing isn't flashy showmanship, their style is just great songs played well (although Louris does make audience contact at one point, pleased to see a fan wearing a vintage t-shirt from the early 90s, their fans are nothing if not dedicated) and they start out as they mean to go on with the country-rocking Wichita from Hollywood Town Hall and then move on to one of the best tracks from their new album Mockingbird Time, Cinnamon Love, which actually becomes bigger and better live. Most of the material is, not surprisingly, drawn from their pair of classic 90s albums, Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass (the albums that should have propelled them into fame and probably would have if they had been released a decade later), and their new album. I hadn't heard the latest record last time they were over so it was great to hear some of its highlights like She Walks In So Many Ways (which is simply The Byrds reborn and sounding wonderful) and the epic Tiny Arrows. A couple of the highlights though came from more unexpected numbers, Angelyne from Rainy Day Music (made during the time Olson had left the band) and an Olson solo number from his amazing album The Salvation Blues, Clifton Bridge. I think The Salvation Blues is one of the best albums of the past decade and it was amazing to hear Louris harmonies on it at last. Olson saw me singing along to every word which made him break out into a big smile, so that was nice that he knows people (or at least me) love his over-looked solo work.

But you know, I'd love to be cool and say it was the "deeper tracks", as they call them, that made my night but it was absolutely heart-warming and joyous to hear all their much loved oldies too like Miss Williams' Guitar, Settled Down Like Rain and Waiting For The Sun. And anyone who hears Louris and Olson harmonising on their awe-inspiringly beautiful lament Blue without being moved obviously has no heart. Thankfully The Jayhawks have plenty for all of us. I really hope this reunion never ends.